Military veterans have expressed differing opinions over the Federal Government's decision to establish four additional divisions in the Nigerian Army, with many welcoming the expansion while questioning whether the implementation timeline and available funding are realistic.
The planned expansion will increase the number of Nigerian Army divisions from eight to twelve as part of efforts to strengthen national security and improve military presence across the country.While several retired senior officers described the initiative as a step in the right direction, they argued that building fully operational military formations requires careful planning, adequate personnel and sustained financial investment.
Retired Brigadier General John Sura Shehu said the proposed timeline announced for establishing the new divisions appears overly ambitious given the complexity of military organisation.
According to Shehu, creating a combat-ready division within three to five months is practically impossible because such formations require extensive recruitment, training, logistics and operational preparation.
He noted that although a new division can be announced administratively, transforming it into a fully functional combat formation takes considerably longer.
The retired officer also questioned how the planned recruitment of about 28,000 additional personnel would adequately staff four new divisions.
He explained that a standard army division typically requires between 15,000 and 20,000 personnel, meaning the available manpower may be insufficient unless further recruitment is undertaken.
Shehu warned that transferring soldiers from existing formations to populate the new divisions could weaken operational effectiveness in already under-strength units.
Despite his reservations, he acknowledged that expanding the army remains necessary in view of Nigeria's growing security challenges.
Other retired military officers also supported the proposal, arguing that additional divisions would improve troop deployment and enhance responses to insecurity across different regions of the country.
Supporters believe the expansion could strengthen territorial defence, improve internal security operations and provide better military coverage in vulnerable areas.
However, they stressed that increased funding must accompany the expansion to ensure that the new formations receive modern equipment, infrastructure and operational support.
Analysts noted that military expansion involves far more than recruiting personnel, as it also requires barracks, training facilities, command headquarters, logistics systems and specialised equipment.
Without adequate financial resources, experts warned that the new divisions could struggle to achieve full operational readiness within the proposed timeframe.
The debate comes as Nigeria continues to confront multiple security threats, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of violent crime across several regions.
Many observers believe strengthening the military remains essential, but they insist that long-term planning, sustainable funding and comprehensive personnel development are equally important for lasting success.
The discussions among retired military leaders highlight the delicate balance between expanding the armed forces quickly and ensuring that new formations are fully prepared to meet operational demands.
As implementation plans move forward, attention is expected to remain focused on recruitment, budget allocations, equipment procurement and the overall readiness of the proposed divisions.
The differing views ultimately reflect a shared objective among military stakeholders to build a stronger, better-equipped Nigerian Army capable of addressing the country's evolving security challenges while maintaining high operational standards.